Do Not Buy A Verizon Mini Notebook Laptop Until You Read This.

Net books, or Mini Notebooks are all the rage these days and the must have work accessory for the business traveler, students returning back to school, and every one else that is tired of lugging around a full sized laptop to every meeting or coffee shop. Not only that, they are pretty cool looking as well !
Verizon recently launched a $199 HP Mini1151 NR Broadband 10.1 inch Notebook that is buzzing all the computer circles, and saturating the T.V. ad spots, but is it really the best bang for the buck or the most convenient ?  Or is Verizon locking customers into a 2 year trap of old technology ?

First of all, the Verizon Mini is only $199 if you sign a 2 year service contract at.

• $39.99 monthly access for 250 MB monthly allowance and 10 cents per megabyte overage, for those that:

• Need a mobile connection 7-8 hours a month (a month ? I need that a day !)
  
• Send or receive email with small or no attachments
• Light Web Browsing
• Download or upload small files
• Download a song or two once in a while (?)
  

• $59.99 monthly access with a 5 GB monthly allowance and 5 cents per megabyte overage, for those that:

• Need a frequent mobile connection
• Send or receive email with large attachments
• Download or upload large files such as photos
• Need frequent access to Web sites
• Download music occasionally

Without the 2 year agreement, the notebook costs $599 !

However, without the 2 year agreement, you then have the option of purchasing a day pass for those who:

• Want the flexibility of using Mobile Broadband without a long-term commitment
• Only need broadband data access once in a while
• Cost is $15 a day (per 24 hr period)…how many of those do you think you’ll rack up in a year ? 5 days a month is $75 !

They don’t offer an unlimited monthly plan for mobile broadband, you get an “allowance”, and there are overage charges if you go above your monthly “allowance”….not a good deal for the average to heavy user, or even the casual one that doesn’t want to ration their internet time.

Second: The Verizon notebook boasts 3G access on the Verizon network. The problem with that is…. Verizon is trailing behind other companies like Sprint, Clear and many others who are already rolling out their 4G networks worldwide, otherwise known as WIMAX (which stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) which offers higher speeds and wider coverage areas.

Third: The product description plainly states that the notebook can only be used with a compatible service plan, kind of like how some mobile phones can only be used on the network that you purchased them for….so this laptop will only work (access the internet) if I have a Verizon service plan ?
That was the deal breaker for me.

So now I’m like the rest of you…”I really want a mini notebook but as always, this was a little too good to be true. What do I do now ?”

Well of course I’m going to tell you what I found or I wouldn’t be writing this article.

After a few weeks of searching, reading reviews, looking at specs, stats, performance, dimensions and everything else down to the available colors and of course, price, I have found (and purchased) the best notebook on the market for the money.

Acer, the company that owns Gateway, Packard-Bell, and E-machines is in control of the mini notebook market and Verizon’s latest notebook offering pales in comparison to the Acer Aspire One 11.6 inch Notebook.
I already own 3 wide screen monitors from Acer, so I was already familiar with their quality.

Having read many reviews (0ver 300) of the smaller model (Aspire One 10.1), I opted to go for the new version the Acer Aspire One 11.6 Notebook.

Here’s how the 2 stack up:

The both come with Windows XP installed, but Windows Vista is available on the Acer Aspire

Because of size, neither has a CD/DVD drive.

The Acer Aspire also has:

• Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 500
• Multi-gesture touchpad supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
• It has a FULL SIZED keyboard..the Verizon Mini does not !
• Windows Vista and Blue Tooth integration is Available on Certain Models, as well as a 6 cell battery for up to 8 hours reserve power.
• Also Wimax (4G) drivers are readily available for your Aspire One for free on the Acer Support site.

I found the Aspire One 11.6 inch Netbook on Amazon for $329, here is the link !

There is also the Acer Aspire One 10.1 for $319

And the Acer Aspire One 8.9 Netbook for $309

All have 160 GB Hard Drive and 1 GB RAM or more  with varying battery options from 3-6 cell. (3-8 Hours of battery life)

Compared to $599 for the Verizon notebook (without a 2 year contract) with less memory, a smaller screen, less resolution, or $199 with a 2 year service contract but it only works on the Verizon Network.

Or the Verizon Dell mini (also 10″) that starts at $399 ! (service contract still required).

Some of the Aspire models are Blue Tooth ready. The model that I purchased ($329) was not, which I rectified with a $19 Blue Tooth USB adapter ( I’ve seen them as low as $3.00, and if you buy a Blue tooth mouse anyway, you already get the adapter), so that I don’t need tie up the USB ports with peripherals, which also makes my little Acer Notebook Wifi, WIMAX, and Bluetooth network ready.

Also a good little tip is to buy a Blue Tooth headset (or use the same one that you use with your phone) they are really cheap theses days, I found a Motorola one on Amazon for  $12.00. So now you can use your Skype, Yahoo, MSN, (and any other) video conferencing capabilities in private if you are out in public. Both the audio and video reception and transmissions are smooth as a babies bottom.

I have had my Aspire One AO751h for about 2 weeks now…(I got the Sapphire Blue) and I couldn’t be happier and I have already road tested it at the local coffee shops and various other places around town and have gotten rave reviews from total strangers ( who always ask, “Is that the Verizon one ? I was thinking bout getting one of those.”) which inevitably ends up with me discussing the differences between the two while people lean over my shoulder like I just purchased a new puppy, or are showing off pictures of the kids to the relatives.

From my review on Amazon (I gave it 5 stars):

“It’s a very slick looking machine. Small and compact at only an inch thick and very lightweight, but sturdy. It is not a flimsy machine by no means.
Nice bright display, very good resolution on the web cam, and everything is very easy to use and configure, even if you are a first timer.
I had mine out of the box and connected to the wireless signal in my house, and my Sprint wireless card (USB) in about 5 minutes.

This seems to be the perfect little machine, great for what I need it for, and just perfect if you don’t want to be lugging around a big ole laptop to every meeting, class or coffee shop.

I contemplated how inconvenient it would be not to have a drive for installation disks, but just about all peripheral makers have installation software and drivers available freely for download from their sites, so problem solved. “

Being a Sprint customer, I already had a Sprint Broadband USB card ($49.99 unlimited…by the way), but I am free to use what ever I wish for the life of the Notebook, it is not pre-installed with anything that will lock me into a contract.

Comparing the two, I just couldn’t see where the Verizon HP, or Verizon Dell notebooks are a good deal. They look great when you see them on T.V., but upon further investigation, they aren’t stocked nearly as well as the Acers, nor do they offer the freedom. It’s one thing to have a phone that is tied to a network, but the last thing I wanted was a computer tied to one.

In my opinion, you can certainly do much better than the Verizon model and I am very happy with the Acer Aspire Series.

Aspire One 11.6 inch Netbook is retailing here for $329

Acer Aspire One AO751h-1378 11.6-Inch Blue Netbook – 3+ Hour Battery Life

Enjoy enhanced productivity and web browsing with the Acer Aspire One AO751h, which features an 11.6-inch high-definition screen and full-sized keyboard. The LED-backlit widescreen (16:9 ratio) display is large enough to easily view multiple windows and reduces the need to scroll to view Internet sites. An integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam delivers smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations. It also includes a Multi-Gesture Touchpad that enables you to pinch, flick and swirl your fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites. The Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows you to scroll, (Continue / Read More.)

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Tagged with: Acer Aspire One • Verizon Laptop

Filed under: For College Students • For Computer Geeks • For Gadget Lovers

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